Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Year of the Rabbit

Happy Lunar New Year!

February 3rd, 2011 marks the beginning of the Year of the Yin Metal Rabbit.The Chinese horoscope is based on a cycle of 12 animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig) and 5 elements, (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). Thus, a particular animal-element combination recurs only once every 60 years.

In previous metal rabbit years: (1831) Nat Turner's slave rebellion broke out, Charles Darwin embarked on the HMS Beagle; (1891) Carnegie Hall and Stanford University opened, basketball was invented, the US Court of Appeals was created; (1951) the Rosenbergs were convicted and the US anti-communist “red-scare” began, the first Univac computer was delivered to the the US census bureau, and “I Love Lucy” was first aired.

The rabbit is typically a gentle, quiet, intuitive, peace-loving animal who seeks safety and domestic harmony. Perpetually bridging the space in the Chinese horoscope between the powerful tiger and dragon, the rabbit prefers to avoid conflict and to act behind the scenes. When feeling secure, rabbits can be capable managers, advisors, and negotiators. When threatened, they can become paranoid and vicious. Thus, this year has potential for both peace and violence. Following are prognostications offered by Daoist scholar Liu Ming.

General Recommendations: Daoist astrology is only loosely predictive. Individual conduct is most important now as this year, potentially inauspicious, is influenced by our collective behavior. This is a good year for looking inward and creating collaborative action. Real security and trustworthy leadership will emerge from our cultivating spontaneous kindness and supporting friends and family. Local generosity adds up. Work cooperatively to prevent the outbreak of fear-driven violence.

Politically, ethnic and regional identity movements will be important in the US, China, India, and the European community. Nations will act to protect their borders and economies but non-traditional, non-national communities will emerge via business, artistic, Internet, and other alliances. Behind-the- scenes diplomacy will be fruitful.

In business and finance, nations will place domestic agendas first thus straining international treaties and markets but real estate sales will increase and stabilize.

In regard to health, the rabbit's affinity for intuition leads to a reinforced mind-body connection. Poor health will heighten mental distress and vice versa. Conversely, mental security will improve physical well-being. Participatory healing practices that fully engage the imagination and intuition can be dramatically effective this year. This is a good year to start or renew a yoga, taichi, or qigong practice.

In the Inner Realm, religion will be less the focus of social and political identity. This isn't a good year to find a righteous cause. Instead, do your own authentic, individual, and intuitive practice.

The metal rabbit year ends and the water dragon year begins on January 23, 2012. How this year goes will be enlarged next year, so act as best you can to promote cooperation and freedom from fear.

About Me

Albany, CA, United States

We offer effective and affordable acupuncture in a relaxing and comfortable shared space and Chinese herbal remedies. Our goal is to provide quality compassionate care and to make it accessible to folks of ordinary means. We believe that Community Acupuncture can play a vital role in keeping health costs down while keeping people healthy. Pioneered by Portland, Oregon’s Working Class Acupuncture, Community Acupuncture makes this safe, simple, effective, 2,000-year-old medicine widely accessible in the West. We are part of People's Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA - pocacoop.com), a co-operative dedicated to increasing accessibility to and availability of affordable group acupuncture treatments.